Have you ever felt dissatisfied with existing religions? Have you ever become fed up with the lack of tolerance within many existing religions? If you are inspired to create change, you can start your own religion. It may take a lot of effort to organize your religion and get it officially recognized. If it is something you are moved to do, however, it will be very rewarding to see your work lead to a thriving membership.

Quick Summary

If you believe you’ve discovered a truth about the universe or human life and want to share it with the world, you can start your own religion by creating a list of central tenets that explain how your followers should treat others. Choose a name that reflects the message or belief of your religion. Talk to friends and acquaintances about your religion and decide on a meeting place to hold services. Keep reading for help becoming a legal, official church and how to increase membership for your new religion!

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Steps

Part 1

Planning Your Religion

1

Write a plan. Starting a religion will require a significant amount of planning. You can start by writing down your ideas about why you want to invent a new religion. Understanding the basic reason for your religion’s existence will be critical if you want it to be successful. You may want to start a religion:[1]

Because you are dissatisfied with ones that currently exist.

Because you are deeply inspired and/or have glimpsed secret knowledge that you would like to share.

To perform weddings and other ceremonies in your own way.

As a joke.

To be critical of other religions.

2

Develop a cosmology. If your religion intends to explain broad questions about the origin of the universe, the nature of reality, and the future, you will want to develop a cosmology, which explains all of these things. Your religion’s cosmology might describe things like a creation story and projections about the eventual end of things. Be as creative or inspired as your religion calls for.[2]

3

Select a name for your religion. The name of your religion should reflect its purpose and foundation, so do not choose it carelessly. Think about the central beliefs or messages of your religion, and try to reflect these in the word or phrase that will serve as its name. Names for religions invented in the past include:[3]

Discordianism

The Church of All Worlds

The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Scientology

Eckankar

4

Develop a list of your religion’s core tenets. These might explain things like how it views relationships between people (Should you be charitable toward others? Act on your own interests?). These principles might also contain philosophical arguments, which can explain how your religion views the world differently than others. For instance, your religion’s principles might contain arguments proving the existence of its god(s), if any.[4]

5

Talk to people about your religion. Once your religion’s core ideas are worked out, you can start inviting other people to join you. Many experts suggest working slowly at first. You might talk to some of your own acquaintances, then build from there by word of mouth. When you have a trusted and fairly stable group, you can work with them to develop bylaws that explain how your religion will be organized and managed.[5]

6

Find a meeting place. Followers of your religion might start out by meeting at your home (or someone else’s). As it grows, you might look for a place that is more public, such as a café, a park, or somewhere else that is convenient. As your religion grows, you may look into more permanent meeting place, such as a rented or purchased building.[6]

7

Read about historical examples. If you are looking for inspiration while planning your religion, you can look into histories of other religions. Studying the world’s major religions can give you ideas, but you can also read about more recent examples of invented religions, such as:[7]

L. Ron Hubbard’s Scientology.

The Church of All Worlds, inspired by Robert Heinlein’s science fiction novel Stranger in a Strange Land.

Discordianism, and its foundational text Principia Discorda.

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Part 1 Quiz

Why is it important to take time and care when naming your religion?

A good name will help attract followers.

Try again! Good tenets that people agree with and an ideology that resonates with them will help you to attract followers. When naming your religion, there's another reason to take a little extra time and care. Try again...

So people take you seriously.

Not exactly! It may be difficult in the beginning to find people who support your religion and its beliefs, but don't worry about those naysayers. Instead, focus each element of developing your religion, from naming it to gathering followers, on the core belief system and how you can better follow it. Pick another answer!

It shows what you stand for.

That's right! Your name should come from something deep within your religion and stand as a pillar of your central belief system and message. It is important that the name of your religion falls into line with everything else that you stand for, so pick carefully. Read on for another quiz question.

So you don't pick a name that already exists.

Not quite! Of course, you don't want to pick a name that's famous for something else, either another religion or something completely different. Still, there's a more pressing reason to take your time and choose carefully. Try another answer...

Part 2

Earning Legal Status

1

Learn the benefits of official recognition. Churches that are recognized as nonprofit according to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 501(c)(3) are automatically considered tax-exempt. You do not have to apply for this protection if you meet the code’s guidelines. This tax exemption can provide financial and legal protection to your religion, allowing it to practice freely according to its principles.[8]

Though tax exemption if automatic for recognized churches, you can still apply formally for it. This might be a good idea if you just want to be sure your religion qualifies for this protection, or if you think that officially applying will give it some legitimacy.

If you want to apply for tax-exempt status for your religion, use IRS Form 1023-EZ.[9]

2

Meet the guidelines for legally establishing a church. The IRS uses the term “church” broadly, taking it to mean any recognized religious group. The primary guidelines for recognition stipulate that any revenue the church earns may not be used to financially benefit an individual or shareholders, or to influence political decision-making (lobbying). The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will consider whether or not a religious group officially qualifies as a church if it meets some combination of features, including:[10]

It has a creed and worship practices

It has formal leadership

It has a clear history

Its membership is distinct from other religious groups

There is a recognized course of study to ordain leaders in the religion

The religion has some form of foundational texts or literary tradition

There are recognized or regular places to worship

The religion has a regular congregation and services

3

Apply for a certificate of formation. A certificate of formation (sometimes called articles of formation) is a document used in many locations to formally incorporate a religion as a legally-recognized entity. If describes what a nonprofit organization will do, how it will be managed, etc. Check your local laws to see if it is necessary to file this document.[11]

4

Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Even if you qualify for tax-exempt status, you will want to apply for an EIN number from the IRS. This number will be necessary if your religion ever has any employees.[12]

Even if your religion is tax-exempt, you must withhold income tax on its employees.

5

Keep records. Tax-exempt status allows religious organizations to have special audit protection. Nevertheless, it is very important to keep excellent records of all your finances. These may include salaries, expenditures, money collected from members of your religion, etc.[13]

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Part 2 Quiz

Why might you want to apply for official recognition under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 501(c)(3)?

You will get reimbursed for expenditures.

Nope! IRC 501(c)(3) definitely has benefits, but you won't see a check in the mail anytime soon. Still, it's a good idea to check to see if you're already recognized or if you need to file for protection under the code. Choose another answer!

It will give you the right to practice your religion.

Try again! Like many other rights, the right to practice your religion is actually protected under the First Amendment. But while you don't need to file in order to practice or worship, it's still a good idea to check out IRC 501(c)(3)! There’s a better option out there!

It will verify your texts and other artifacts as protected religious items.

Not exactly! If you're looking to keep your church's history safe, consider giving the artifacts to a museum or hiring a security company. (IRC) 501(c)(3) isn't designed for keeping artifacts safe. There’s a better option out there!

It provides financial and legal protection to your church.

Correct! (IRC) 501(c)(3) gives your church tax-exempt status, and along with it legal and financial protection. While some churches will be automatically protected, it's important to make sure you are by filing. Read on for another quiz question.

Part 3

Increasing Membership

1

Hold frequent services or meetings. Studies have shown that the most successful religions have congregations that meet often. If your religion has services or worship procedures, consider holding them several times a week. You will be more likely to increase your religion's numbers if members and potential members have the flexibility to choose when to attend services.[14]

2

Increase your religion’s visibility. It is more important than ever to get the word out about your religion if you want to increase its members. Make sure that your religion has active representation on all social media, make flyers to distribute in your community, give away T-shirts, etc.

3

Create a welcoming feel. People are more likely become regular members of your religion if you offer them a welcoming place to visit. Whatever your religious services entail, consider having them in a comfortable environment that is easily accessible. For instance, people that are intimidated by or turned off of traditional religious services might be more likely to attend an informal, coffee-house style service.[15]

4

Offer lots of programs. Worshiping and increasing understanding of your religion’s core tenets might be the most important aspects of your services. However, offering additional programs can increase the sense of community among your religion’s members, while still keeping people close to the religion itself. Consider incorporating activities like:[16]

Not necessarily! You want to work to promote a positive vibe and that includes not putting other religions down, even if you don't agree with them. If you do decide to talk about other religions, try to do so in a positive light. Click on another answer to find the right one...

Show them all the other programs you host.

Try again! Community programs are a great way to bring members of your congregation closer, so consider having many. Still, you want the people interested in your religion to come because they share your beliefs, not because of book club Friday. Try again...

Give an informal service.

Correct! You'll want to show, not tell, the skeptic why your religion is different from all the rest. It's wiser to do that by highlighting your services in a casual, low key light, rather than bashing anyone else's. Read on for another quiz question.

How can I spread my religion to others without offending their religion?

wikiHow Contributor

You should just share your religion with others and try to let them know why you believe it to be the right choice. If the person is rational and reasonable, that will not offend them or their religion. The only thing that's offensive is insulting someone else's religion or trying to force them to follow yours without letting them decide for themselves.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 178,011 times.

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Views: 178,011

Joydeep Ghosh

Jun 16, 2017

"I might start a religion, someday, but I am busy for now. I am working on it. But I was always curious about registrations, etc. (if the logo could be registered peacefully and with a secularly-free right), so I am thankful to wikiHow, as every detail was informed here."..." more

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Anonymous

Apr 24

"This is helping me develop my own religion called lptism."

A

Anonymous

Mar 6

"This was super helpful."

ES

Ernesto Stoned

Sep 21, 2016

"Great information, and now to rid the world of the biggest, richest and most corrupt religion in the world. Got to believe in god and have plenty of faith to make it happen."..." more

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Bryant

May 5, 2016

"It helped me start understanding the steps in order to create a religion. I hope to branch out in the world and allow people to use my ways as they please."..." more

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Colt King

Jun 29, 2016

"This gave me the inspiration and help I needed. One of the finest articles I've read on wikiHow."

Graci Chandler

Apr 28, 2017

"This is very helpful because I want to get a micronation and create a language and religion."

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Michael Evans

Apr 28, 2017

"I am planning to start a religion and this has given me amazing insight. "